Leamington’s run of indifferent form continued this week as they suffered their sixth successive league defeat, losing to Old Coventrians. The result leaves them squarely in the “drop zone”, with rugby in Midlands 3 a distinct possibility for next season.

In superb playing conditions, the home side hit the game running and immediately put pressure on Leamington, with Jim Robertson having to clear his lines with a couple of timely kicks to touch. OC’s, however, continued to press and claimed possession in the middle of the pitch. Three miss-tackles from Leamington opened up their defence and they conceded an early try.

With the game being played at pace, Leamington responded in the best possible manner. The pack won the ball and provided Robertson with the opportunity to get his backline moving. Nathan Earland joined to create an overlap and found the tireless Mark Baldwin in support and thus carry the move forward. As the home defence reacted, Baldwin cleverly drew his opposite number into the tackle and then set Gareth Shuttleworth away. The Leamington back row raced through, fending off a last-ditch tackle to get his side back on level terms.

Leamington now settled into a more pleasing rhythm of play, with Tom Greevy setting a fine example with a brace of thumping tackles, and then Shuttleworth produced another teasing run at the home defence. Having pace on either wing, Leamington got the ball to Jamie Harrison, on the left flank, giving him the chance to hit the home side with a couple runs and this high tempo play from the visitors ultimately brought reward. Robertson, Danny Ruyssevelt and Shuttleworth created the opening, following some slick inter passing, on far side. The ball was switched to the open-side and Earland took possession and glided through the home defence to score.

Although OC’s hit back with a penalty, Leamington further increased the pressure on the home side, with a well worked try. Winning a line-out in the OC’s 22 metre area, Greevy claimed possession and set up a drive towards the line. The pack gave full support, moved the ball to Ruyssevelt on the blind side, who managed to get in a pass to Danny Phillips, enabling the Leamington prop to crash over for the score. Robertson’ conversion attempt dropped agonisingly short of the posts.

Both teams were playing under intense pressure, in view of the position they find themselves in, close to the bottom of the league and any thoughts of a Leamington runaway victory were quickly put aside as OC’s hit back with some dynamic play in their big set of forwards, resulting in a try.

Half-Time: 13 – 15

Momentum is key, particularly in this, a very high tension match and the home side were certainly up for the battle as they hit Leamington with an early penalty goal. Then, only five minutes into the second period, they increased their lead with a converted score.

The game was lit up with an exquisite piece of rugby football from Leamington on the quarter hour of play. They secured possession via a scrum on the halfway line and Centre, Mark Baldwin, broke through at speed, finding Alex Carroll in full support. With the defence back peddling, Carroll flashed a timely pass into the grateful hands of Jamie Harrison who raced over. The whole move had lasted just seconds; such was the pace of the attack.

Robertson drilled over the conversion so in one breath, Leamington had gained a valuable bonus point for the fourth try, another potential one for being within seven points of the opposition and more importantly they were back in the game.

While play was evenly balanced, Leamington perhaps failed to make full use of the potential match winning talents of Harrison and fellow winger, Ryan Byrne, at the same time allowing the big OC’s pack too much possession. This was to prove decisive as they lost the ball deep in defence, which the home side’s forwards quickly capitalised on, moving the ball out before creating enough space to break through and score. Whilst Leamington managed to hold on to their two, potentially precious, bonus points, they had to concede the game and a further try bonus point to the hosts.

Full-Time: 28 – 22